Shaft-driven axle for automobile vehicles.



F. PILAIN.

SHAFT DBIVEN AXLE FOB. AUTOMOBILE VEHICLES'.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 15. 1907.

975,2?6. Patented N0v.8,191o@ j UNiTnD sTArEs rA'rENT; orricn.

FnA'Ncois PILAIN, or LYON, FRANCE@ SHAFT-DRIVEN AxLE roi?.v AUTOMOBILE vEI-IICLES.

Specification of LettersP'atent. Application filed January 15, 1907. Serial No. 352,455.`

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

To all whomlit may comem:

- Be it known that I, FRANCOIS PIL'AIN, a

citizen ofthe French Republic, and residing at 17 Chemin de Monplaisir, a Grange! Rouge, Lyon, in the Department 'of Rhne,

France engineer, have invented a certain new and useful Shaft-Driven Axle for A1'1.

Atomobile Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, and for which I have applied for Letters Patent in France, dated January 17, 1906.

This invention relates to a system of shaftA and the interior dimensions of the hollow" barrels allows the displacement of the Cardan shafts which results from the relative movements of the chassis and ofthe axle'. This arrangement permits of having a rigid axle with dished wheels and of having thedifferential mounted upon the chassis, the

connection between this dieren'tial and the wheels being made by shafts which are thus as long as possible and insure eliiciency in transmission.

The following description is given with reference to the annexed drawing in whichi Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the 40 driving mechanism, one wheel and a portion Kof the axle and chassis. Fig. 2 shows" in horizont-al section the barrel and the hub of v the wheel. In the drawing A indicates a hollow barrelwhich 'forms the extremity of the dropped axle. The whole of these two parts A B forms the bridge or carrying axle; u on l the barrel A. is mounted the wheel C an to the axle is fixed the ordinary suspension spring D of the vehicle.

The differential E which receives the drive from the engine by means of any suitable transmission, for instance,1bymeans of a Cardan shaft placed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and extending to the engine which is arranged infront, is inclosed in a casing or box F fixed to the chassis P ofthe vehicle. From the differential extend two shafts G G- transmittingmotion to the wheels. The shaft G at its extremity H on the side of the differential has a feather device engaging in a fork piece I, which Y with a kernel K andanother piece I similar to I fast with the gear wheel E corresponding with the differential, forms a Cardan or universal joint which permits a certain displacement of theshaft G relatively to the differential. The other extremity of v the sha-ft G ends in a fork J which' with a kernel K and thecap L of the hub` form in the hub itself a Cardan or universal joint device between the shaft G and the Wheel the drive of the latter bythe shaft G being thus made outside its middle lane; this arrangement permits the shafts G G to be given as eat a length as possible, which renders their Obliquity very slight and procures good conditions for transmission. l

The hollow barrel A is slightly inclined relatively to a horizontal axis passing through the center of the kernels of the Cardan 'joint K K, this inclination giving a suitable dishing to the,wheels. lThe interlor cavity of thebarrels is Vof suitable dimension and shape to allow to` the shafts G yG the lplay necessary to their displacement resu ting' from the flexion of the suspension springs of the vehicle. Y

N and O are flexible leather shields protecting the parts from dust and humidit In order to dismount the parts it su ces to removel the caps from the hubs of the' i wheel, to remove'the Cardan kernels and to withdraw the shafts G G causing the keyed parts to slide. in the grooves of the parts I I. This arrangement gives vthe advantage Vof direct ydriving of the wheels while allow ing the latter to be dished; the shafts which A connect the differential to the .wheels are.

maintained only at their points of connection to the dierentiall `and to the wheels without any journaling and by reason of the outside drive of the wheels, the ob liquity of these' shafts is but. small, which affords efliclcnt conditions 'of transmission.

The invention may of course be, carriedl out with various constructional alterations in accordance with the set forth. v l

Having thus described my invention what I claim as such and desire to secure by Letters Patent is general arrangement 1. In a motor vehicle, the combination of i a spring supported bodly, an axle having a Journaled upon the 2. In a motor vehicle, the combination ofl a spring supported body, an axle having a hollow axle end, a -wheel journaled upon the f hollow axle end, driving mechanism supported by the body, a universal joint car-l ried bythe driving mechanism, a universal- Yjoint carried'by-the outer end of the wheel. hub, and anv intermediate shaftv extendedthrough .the hollow axle end and engaging said universal joints. 4 j i,

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination o f a spring supported bod an axle having a hollow axle end, a whee journaled upon the hollow axle end, driving name in the mechanism supported by the body, a universal joint carried bythe driving mechanism, a universal joint carried by' the outerend of the wheel hub, an intermediate shaft' extended through the hollow axle end and engaging said universal joints, and means to com ensate for the varying distances between tle driving mechanism and the outer end of the wheel hub.

-I 4. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a s ring supported body, an axle having a hollow axle end, a wheel journaled upon the hollow axle end, driving mechanism supported by the body, a universal joint carried by the driving mechanism, a universal joint carried by the outer end of the wheel hub, an intermediate shaft extended through the hollow axle end and engaging the universal joints, and a removable cap engaging the outer end of the wheel hub and holdin the universal joint'in engagement therewit -In testimony whereof I have signed my presence ofthe two su scribing witnesses.v j FRANCOIS PILAIN. Witnessesz s MARIN VAGHON,

v THos. N. BRowNn. 

